In fiscal year 1977, ERDA joined forces with DARPA to support this project. The progress made on the DARPA Ceramic Turbine Testing Program is presented in this volume while the progress on the ERDA Ceramic Turbine Technology and Ceramic Turbine Materials and NDE Technology Programs is presented in Volume 2. Duo-density rotor fabrication continued with over 600 rotor blade rings injection molded utilizing the automatic solid state control system. Eleven duo-density ceramic turbine rotors were cold spin tested to qualify them for further hot running. Development of the hot spin rigs continued. A combustor flame-out problem and a durability problem with the rotor tip shroud/failure detector were resolved. An important engine test of a duo-density silicon nitride rotor was accomplished. Fabrication development on injection molding of stators and nose cones of 2.7g/cc density was continued on a limited basis. Testing of stationary components continued in both qualification and durability rigs. A complete set of silicon nitride stationary components consisting of a nose cone, two stators, two rotor tip shrouds and a second-stage stator centering ring completed the program objective of 175 hours at 1930 F plus 25 hours at 2500 F with over 40 lights. In addition, a silicon carbide stator successfully completed over 175 hours at 1930 F plus over 28 hours at 2500 F with 52 lights. Stators of two different materials, injection molded silicon nitride and reaction bonded silicon carbide, have now completed the program durability goal of 200 hours.

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